It is important to define concepts such as the Divine Liturgy, the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Communion.Translated from the Greek language designates the Eucharist "sacrament of thanksgiving."But Liturgy - is the greatest church service, during which the sacrificed flesh and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine.Then comes the sacrament itself, when the person eating the consecrated bread and wine, is attached to God that its purity implies both physical and spiritual.Therefore, before Communion must always confess.
church service is daily, weekly and annual.In turn, the daily cycle includes those services that makes the Orthodox Church throughout the day.They number nine.Home and the main part of the church service - a Divine Liturgy.
daily cycle
Moses described the creation of the world God, since "day" in the evening.So it happened in the Christian Church, where "day" also began to start the evening and called Vespers.This service is performed at the end of the day when believers thank God for the past day.The following service is named "Compline," and it consists of a series of prayers that are read in order to ask God for forgiveness of our sins and all the protection of body and soul during sleep from the evil machinations of the devil.Then comes the Midnight calling all believers to be always prepared for the day when there will come the Last Judgment.
the morning service Orthodox parishioners thank the Lord for the last night and ask him for mercy.The first hour corresponds to our seven in the morning and serves as a time of prayer of consecration of a new day.In the third hour (nine o'clock in the morning) recall the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.In the sixth hour (noon) recall the crucifixion of Christ.At the ninth hour (three o'clock pm) reminded death on the cross of Christ the Savior.After the Divine Liturgy begins.
Orthodox liturgy
in church worship the Divine Liturgy - is the main and the main part of the service, which is carried out to dinner, or rather morning.At these moments, I remember the Lord's whole life from the moment of his birth until the Ascension.So surprisingly, there is the sacrament of Holy Communion.
The main thing you need to understand that the liturgy - a great mystery of love of the Lord God to man, they set themselves the day of the Last Supper, which he commanded his disciples to do.After the Lord ascended into heaven, the apostles began to make the sacrament every day, while reading the prayers, psalms and Scripture.The first rite of the liturgy was composed of the Apostle James.
All church services in the most ancient times were held in monasteries and hermits in due time for them.But then, for the convenience of people who believe themselves of these services combined into three parts services: evening, morning and afternoon.
Generally, the liturgy - is, first of all, thanks to the Son of God for His goodness, visible and invisible, that it sends through the people or all circumstances, for His death on the cross and the saving sufferings of His resurrection and ascension, for mercy and the opportunity to addressto Him for help at any moment.People go to the liturgy for the transformation of consciousness and perception of reality changes that occurred a mysterious encounter with God and with himself, the way wants to see and expect the Lord to Himself.
Liturgy - a prayer to God for all his family, loved ones, for themselves, for their country and for the whole world, that he defended in difficult times and comforted.At the end of the week it is usually held a special thanksgiving service and the Sunday liturgy.
During the liturgy there is an important church sacraments - Eucharist ("thanksgiving").Every Christian believer at this time can prepare for and take Holy Communion.
Orthodox liturgy is divided into three types, which are the names of St. John Chrysostom, Basil the Great and Presanctified.
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
The name Church liturgy received because of its author, who is considered to be the Archbishop of Constantinople, John Chrysostom.
He lived in the IV century, and then they were gathered together the various prayers and established the rank of Christian worship that is performed most days of the liturgical year, except for some holidays and days of Lent.St. John Chrysostom was the author of secret prayer priest read during the service.
Chrysostom Liturgy is divided into three successive parts.First comes proskomedia, followed by the Liturgy of the catechumens and the Liturgy of the Faithful.
Proskomedia
Proskomedia translated from Greek as "the offering."This part is preparing everything necessary for the sacrament.For this purpose, five holy bread, but communion is for the most used is the only one that has the name "Holy Lamb".Proskomedia Orthodox priest performed a special altar where accomplished Sacrament itself and the connection on the discos of particles around the Lamb, which creates a symbol of the Church, which is led by the Lord himself.
Liturgy announcement
This part is a continuation of the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom.At this time, it begins training the faithful to the sacrament of Holy Communion.I remember the life and sufferings of Christ.The liturgy of the catechumens received its name because in ancient times, it allowed only mentees or heard people being prepared to receive the Holy Baptism.They stood in the porch and had to withdraw from the church after special words of deacon "announcement, begone ...".
Liturgy of the Faithful
It contains only baptized Orthodox parishioners.This is a special liturgy, the text of which is read from the Scriptures.At these moments, it completed important celebration, prepared earlier in the previous parts of the liturgy.Gifts to the altar are carried to the throne, the faithful are prepared for the consecration, then sanctified Gifts.Then, all the faithful are preparing to receive Holy Communion and Communion.Next comes the Communion and thanksgiving for the dismissal.
Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
Theologian Basil lived in the IV century.He held an important church archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.
One of his major works is considered to be the rite of the Divine Liturgy, which recorded the secret prayers of priests, visited during a church service.There also he included other prayer petitions.
the Christian Church Constitution this rite is performed only ten times a year: the feast day of St. Basil the Great, Christmas and Epiphany, from the 1st to the 5th Sunday of Lent, Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday Holy sedmits.
This service is much like the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the only difference is that there is no commemorate the dead in the litany, read the secret prayers, there are certain songs Mother of God.
Liturgy of St. Basil the Great took the whole Orthodox East.But after a while, John Chrysostom, referring to human weakness, made a reduction, which, however, concerned only the secret prayers.
Basil Memorial Day is celebrated on 1 January to the old style and the new January 14.
Liturgy Presanctified
This tradition of church worship attributed to St. Gregory the Great (Dialogos) - Pope held this high office with 540 604 a year.It is performed only during Lent, namely on Wednesday, Friday and some holidays only if they do not fall on Saturday and Sunday.In essence, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is an evening, and it is connected rite before the Blessed Sacrament.
One very important feature of this service is that at this time may be the sacrament of Holy Orders in the deacon, while the other two liturgies, Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, may be ordained to the priesthood candidate.
